What would you say, particularly in Denver, the shelters and nonprofits could improve upon? What services helped the most, and which did you feel hindered recovery by enabling stagnation?

I'm interested as well in the 'Servants' program, talked about at 33:12 - Do you think a more involved community experience would work in Denver, where services would be hand in hand with a stronger sense of family and bonding?

If you want to see extended versions of the interviews, (untainted with sh*tty narration and cartoons), you can check out my extras.

I absolutely think programs imitating the 'Servants' program would help the homeless community thrive. There's one organization I went to a lot called Sox Place. They were amazing there. I opened up the debate of how feeding the kids is just enabling them and yadda yadda. They had some really solid points. The things that resonated with me were that there's a spectrum of help. Sometimes giving them spare change opens up a relationship between them which can lead to a deeper connection. Which in turn leads to them coming to you when they seek advice &/or reach their "bottom." Sox Place is a youth shelter and as Alex, the homeless kiwi, mentioned: a lot of the homeless come from a crappy background. A lot of the kids you meet on the street are running away from sh*tty home lives where they're abused, molested, neglected, etc. So, developing a fatherly/older brother relationship can really help these kids. IMHO, it's a slower process than having an intake program where the kids can stay, find jobs, and change their ways asap. BUT Sox Place is privately funded and struggles to stay open as it is. If they had more money they could do even more good than they already are. So, I have to emphasize that throwing money at the problem doesn't help - BUT throwing money at the right organizations CAN HELP.
SoxPlace.org

CTRL + F search this AMA for "Samaritan House" because I explain why that's one of my favorite shelters along with Step 13.

As far as the services that hindered? It's complicated because like the Denver Rescue Mission, they have a program that rehabilitates people and hooks them up with a car, house, education after months of hard work and sobriety. But on the other hand, the majority of the homeless Denver Rescue Mission houses aren't breathalyzed and have been drunkenly using their "temporary shelter" for years. Same with most of the day shelters. Countless people just go there and eat and play on the computers with no intention to change. BUT there are programs at these day shelters that help them get jobs, get clean, etc. when they are ready. So, maybe just being exposed to places with those options is helping in a way but I personally think every organization should be like 'Step 13' or 'Samaritan House' if they have the funding to do so.

I actually work for St. Francis Center...is there anything you feel we in particular could improve upon? Also, if I passed along your blog/AMA to the higher-ups, would you mind being contacted if they had more questions?

Oh wow. I would gladly be contacted. 100%. That's the whole point of this documentary is to educate people and hopefully make a change. St. Francis is the shelter that "gave me a whole bunch of helpful information." And actually got me tested for Tuberculosis. I gotta' say most people wake up/get kicked out of shelters like Jesus Saves & the Cross Roads then all shuffle to St. Francis to loiter all day. I think the programs you offer that help the most are the ones that drive people to get licenses, let people receive mail there, medical evaluations, etc.

I could ramble about this all day and I'm sure my friend, Bo (who I think is still in Denver volunteering at organizations), would have tons of great insight as well.